Bristol 32 (60) - Doncaster 34 (47)By Nick Powell
Bristol ended their 7 seasons of hurt in the Championship as they held on to their 15 point first leg lead to reach the Premiership after a thrilling game at a sold out Ashton Gate.
Doncaster had the better of the first half but went into the break behind. They broke through to lead just a minute from time but Michael Heaney's box kick was charged down by opposite scrum half Will Grigg to give Bristol a 21 point half time buffer.
Bristol added 3 penalties to surge clear, but the Knights hit back with tries from Paul Jarvis, Tyson Lewis and Ollie Steadman went over to give Doncaster some hope 10 minutes before the end.
But Bristol managed to go over and held on. A late Doncaster try gave them the win on the night but it was the West Country side who will be playing top tier rugby next season
Bristol were big favourites after they had scored 17 unanswered second half points to win 28-13 away from home. This was their fifth final since they were relegated into the Championship in 2009, it was Doncaster's first after being promoted the season before. And despite falling short in all those finals Bristol had not headed into the second leg with a lead before, let alone 15 points.
Doncaster would need to be perfect and take almost every chance if they had any hope of reaching the Premiership with a second consecutive promotion. But the Knights did not make the best start.
After missing some early chances in their rivals 22 they conceded a penalty in front of the posts to hand Bristol the lead on the night as they moved 18 clear overall. The northern side had the better of the proceedings however so deserved Declan Cusack's equalizing penalty.
It looked as if they had been hit with a blow that would all-but end their already slim hopes as Cliff broke through to feed Captain Lemi in the corner but the try was correctly ruled out for the winger being in touch. Doncaster had their own chance in the corner also but Andy Bulumakau also failed to stay in play.
Doncaster were applying a lot of pressure on the 20 minute mark but missed another huge chance 5 metres out and their Premiership dream was fading. This was compounded by Cusack's penalty miss. The chances had been there for Doncaster but they weren't taking any of them.
And it looked to be Bristol who'd be heading in at half time in the lead on the night as Callum Sheedy knocked over two penalties before half time to give them a 21 point buffer on aggregate to all but end the match as a contest.
The latter stages of the first half saw the game come alive, first Will Hurrell crashed over for Doncaster to score his second try of the tie after Doncaster were attacking in Bristol territory, before the hosts moved back into the lead. Will Cliff charged down his opposite number's box kick to all but seal the win.
Doncaster started the second half more brightly, coming within 5 yards of regaining the lead on the day and Mat Clark went over after some really nice phase play after a tap penalty. It went to the TMO however, and was somewhat harshly ruled out for obstruction. That missed chance summed up Doncaster's day, and soon Bristol were on the attack.
The Knights scrum was coming under pressure now & concedes a penalty which Sheedy slotted over, and it was 19-10. This was soon extended to 22-10 with another scrum penalty, and Doncaster's listy saw yellow, Bristol could start to believe it was finally their day as yet another penalty went over for not rolling away. They led by 30 on aggregate, doubling their lead on the day, they had just 20 minutes to hold on. Doncaster needed 5 tries.
They started the fightback however, 20 minutes from time Jarvis found a gap where there didn't look to be one and Doncaster were winning on tries on the night but that's just about all they were winning. But they were really starting to win some pride back when they notched a second. Lewis went over in the corner, the winger rounded Matt Morgan it didn't look to be grounded, but it was given and after the first conversion Bristol had made 12 of the 18 points back.
The Knights were fighting back incredibly, they were nearly in again after space was created for Lewis outside and Clark surged for the line. He was inexorably held up, but from the resulting scum the knights won a free kick and number eight Ollie Steadman kept hopes of one of the great Rugby comebacks alive.
Doncaster came again, they went so close again. Challinor made a huge carry, but scrum half Heaney, who had a difficult game, went for a big pass wide towards Clark but it was picked off and Bristol could escape. They won a scrum penalty and kicked clear and it was game for Doncaster despite a mighty effort.
And Ashton Gate erupted as James Phillips goes over following another powerful maul & series of pick and go carries. Doncaster attacked at the end with chance after chance and got a late try through Latu Maakafi. The Knights won on the night but it was Bristol's 16,000 fans who could breathe a collective sigh of relief as they reached the Premiership after years of hurt.
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